The relationship between perceived social support from family and diabetes self-management among patients in Uganda

INTRODUCTION: optimal self-care in diabetes mellitus contributes substantially to good glucose control and delays development of complications. The family´s support is an important predictor of optimal self-care behavior. Little is known about the relationship between social support from family and self-care behavior in Uganda. The study set out to determine the association between perceived social support from immediate family and diabetes self-management among diabetic patients in the eastern region of Uganda. METHODS: this was a cross-sectional study among 405 adults attending diabetic outpatient clinics in Eastern Uganda between May 2021 and June 2021. Data of socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, perceived social support from family, and diabetes self-management were collected. Descriptive statistics were done and associations of socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, perceived social support from family with diabetes self-management were determined using Pearson Chi-square and Fisher´s exact tests. RESULTS: the mean (SD) age was 52 (14.9) years, (60%) were female, majority (49.4%) were 45-64 years old. Perceived social support from family and optimum diabetes self-management were found in; (95.3%) and (87.4%) respectively. Perceived social support from family was associated with optimal diabetes self-management (p-value <0.001). Financial contribution from family members to cost of care and cohesion among family members in support of care were associated with optimal diabetes self-management both with a (p-value 0.001). Access to a functional glucometer was associated with optimal diabetes self-management (p-value <0.001). CONCLUSION: among patients in Eastern Uganda, self-management for diabetes control is significantly associated with perception of receipt of support from their families.